ILO agrees to increase minimum wage for seafarers

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has agreed to increase the minimum wage for seafarers in the position of Able Seaman.

This was reported by the Trade Union of Maritime Transport Workers of Ukraine.

The decision was made following the meeting of the Subcommittee on Seafarers’ Wages of the Joint Maritime Commission (JMC), which was held on April 14-15, 2025 in Geneva.

Representatives of shipowners and trade unions from around the world took part in the negotiations. The process was coordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

According to the agreed Resolution, the minimum wage for AB will increase as follows:

from January 1, 2026 – to $690

•from January 1, 2027 – to $704,

from January 1, 2028 – to $715.

This is a more than 6% increase from the current rate of $673, which took effect on January 1, 2025, under the previous three-year agreement from September 2022.

Reference: Able Seaman (AB) is a qualified deck position on a seagoing vessel. Translated as “qualified seaman” or “class I seaman”.